“Perhaps she had reason to be.” I took a breath. “While they were partners on the stage, they secretly married. She was his wife.”
His face steeled. “You’re ... certain?”
I nodded. “Eloped. Gretna Green.”
He heaved a large sigh. “Even if they were involved in this manner—which I still cannot manage to understand—I still cannot see the justice in the way things have played out against him. He had to leave his entire life, the theater, everything, because he was accused of murdering someone who wasn’t even killed, as it turns out. Part of me believes she...”
I pressed my lips together and stared at my folded hands. He might believe he knew, but he hadn’t met Mama or heard her speak of her great love. Hadn’t witnessed the sheer animosity on my father’s face when I had mentioned her to him. All he knew was that the man who had been kind to him was suspected of murder, and he couldn’t bear the disparity.
When I looked back up at Jack in the deeply shadowed coach, he was openly staring at me. “He’s carried the weight of someone else’s sins around with him for many years, and it’s time he was free of it. If I accomplish one task with the rest of my life, it’ll be finding out what truly happened, however I can ... and releasing him at long last.”
I clutched my hands in my lap, trying several times to swallow, and lowered my gaze from the man who had just spent the day pouring new life into my dreams. “I’m not certain I wish to be involved.” Whether Marcus de Silva had set the fire or had merely lived tortured under the weight of suspicion, my heart twisted at the mere thought of him.
“I will find out—with or without your help. It’s the truth I’m after, and truth is meant to be found.”
The truth. Perhaps that would bring about my release as well.
It was raining lightly when he walked me home from the coach stop. A drizzly mist settled on our faces and dampened my odd clothing, and I sighed. “I may have one small idea to help your investigation.”
20
Alone in the empty theater, I took out Mama’s box of letters from her flat at Tavistock Place and traced the inlaid chips of stone and glass. I hadn’t even read them all. I hadn’t been able to bear the entire stack, but perhaps Jack, who had no attachment to my mum, could dig through and find something useful. It was the least I could do for him.
I made my way across Covent Garden and climbed the steps to Jack’s top-floor flat. When he popped out in answer to my knock, I handed him the box and explained where I’d come across it. “Perhaps you’ll find some interesting bit, a clue, or even a threat from someone. Do with the information what you will, but I would like it all returned to me when you are done.”
He lingered against the doorframe, arms crossed. “So I have your permission? Your express permission to dowhateverI wish with this information?”
Immediately I sensed the danger of agreeing. “Nothing public, no scandal. No newspaper or gossip column or anything like that.”
He placed a hand on his chest. “You have my word of honor.”Then he exhaled and lowered his hand, face solemn. “Thank you ... for this. It’s terribly kind of you.”
“You practically demanded my assistance.”
“Yes, but you’re not one to comply. Not easily, anyway.”
A wry smile. “I do so love to prove you wrong.”
“I see.” A grin twitched over his face as he looked me over and set the box just inside. “Ready for the audition?”
“I’m never ready.”
“Remember, though, you have a secret weapon this time. How is that Psalm coming?”
“Easier than I expected, actually.” I’d spent hours already with my Psalm book and pencil, writing choreography in the margins. “We’ll see how it works when it matters most.”
“Ah, so the rare moment of proving merightthis time.”
“Don’t become used to it.”
He leaned against the doorframe again. “I’ve given some thought to my hero, actually. Because I know you were wildly curious about the ballet.”
“Oh?”
“I’ve come to the decision that if Philippe is to play the lead, you must be the one to dance opposite him.”
I laughed. “You’ll have a fine time convincing Bellini and Fournier of that.”
“No, truly. I think it must be that way, and you can have your dance with Philippe Rousseau at last. What do you say? You, dancing the part of Delphine Bessette, your father’s legendary partner, and Philippe ... well, Philippe would be dancing as the man she loves.”
